You Won’t Believe What Hackers Can Do With Your SSN


F8 studio / Shutterstock.com

F8 studio / Shutterstock.com

From GhostTouch to Vishing, there are so many scams out there attacking your phone, computer, and every bit of technology housing your private information. While we’ve grown accustomed to hearing about hacking, you still might be amazed and appalled by the many ways a scammer can fraudulently use your Social Security number.

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“It’s crucial to be vigilant about SSN disclosure to minimize the chances of falling victim to cybercrime and identity theft,” cautions Sean O’Brien, a lecturer in Cybersecurity at Yale Law School Privacy Lab. “For the past two decades, we’ve seen electronic systems reduce reliance upon SSN as an identifier and a push for other methods of authentication and identification.”

“Due to increased pressure from U.S. regulators and government agencies, however, many systems now require SSN as part of KYC or know your customer policy,” says O’Brien. “This has meant that SSN is, once again, a linchpin to our digital lives.”

Discover some of the awful — but very real — consequences that might happen if your SSN gets stolen, and learn how to prevent or deal with these worst-case scenarios.

aodaodaodaod / Shutterstock.com

aodaodaodaod / Shutterstock.com

Hackers can use your SSN to get credit cards in your name.

It is possible for a hacker to get a credit card with just your name, address and Social Security number. Once the credit cards are in place, fraudsters can run up a lot of debt. Generally speaking, criminals aim to get the most they can with the least effort.

Keeping your SSN safe requires two things: understanding and implementing security best practices, and luck.

Pro tip: If you suspect someone has opened a credit card in your name, your first calls should be to the three major credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Don’t just contact one — call all three.

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guteksk7 / Shutterstock.com

guteksk7 / Shutterstock.com

They can use your SSN to open a phone account in your name.

Right now, with how phones are connected to our lives and data in so many…

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